Learning the A Chord Guitar Lesson
Learning the A Chord
In this lesson, Eve Goldberg introduces the first chord in this series, the A chord. She also shows how this chord can be used to play a simple song.
Taught by Eve Goldberg in Basic Acoustic Guitar seriesLength: 22:54Difficulty: 0.5 of 5
If you need extra help or explanation of the materials presented in this lesson series, feel free to write in to Eve or one of the other JamPlay instructors. On JamPlay, there are several available methods for communicating with the instructors. You can leave a question or comment directly within the lesson that you are working on. The member community forum is another outlet for posting comments or questions. In this section of the site, other JamPlay members as well as the instructors can help you with a question. You can also send a private message on the forum that only the instructor will see. Or, you can go to an instructors' profile page and send a message. Please keep in mind that JamPlay is not the only job commitment for most of the JamPlay teaching staff. Therefore, it may be a few days before you hear a response. Your patience is always greatly appreciated!
Lesson 2 Overview / Objectives
-Review important introductory information presented in the previous lesson.
-Learn proper playing posture and how the guitar should be held.
-Learn how to play the basic A major chord.
-Develop basic rhythmic skills.
-Strum the A chord in time to create a simplistic guitar accompaniment.
-Play the accompaniment while singing a basic melody line.
Note: For singing instruction refer to the following lesson sets here on JamPlay:
Phase 2 Guitar Performance (taught by Mark Lincoln)
Phase 2 Singing with Guitar (taught by Steve Eulberg)
I. Review Time
In the first lesson, Eve explained some preliminary information that is absolutely essential to playing guitar. In this lesson and the following lessons, Eve will frequently reference the materials from the first lesson as she explains new concepts. Consequently, you must have a firm understanding of the information presented in the first lesson. If necessary, review the following information from lesson one at this time.
1. How the strings are referred to.
A string can be referenced either by its number or by its letter name. The letter name indicates the note produced when the string is played "open" or without any fretting fingers.
2. The parts of the guitar.
Refer to the lesson video and "Lesson Information" section of the previous lesson for detailed information on this topic. For additional information, check out the following lessons.
Mark Brennan - Phase 1, Lesson 1
Jim Deeming - Phase 1, Lesson 5
Mark Lincoln - Phase 1, Lesson 1
David Walliman - Phase 1, Lesson 2
Brian Thomas - Phase 1, Lesson 2
David MacKenzie - Phase 1, Lesson 1
Steve Eulberg - Phase 1, Lesson 1
David Anthony - Phase 1, Lesson 1
Steve Eulberg - Phase 1 Kids Series, Lesson 2
3. How the left hand fingers are labeled.
When reading sheet music in standard notation, do not confuse the string numbers with left hand finger numbers. String numbers are traditionally written inside a circle next to a note head to indicate which string a note should be played on. Left hand finger designations are usually written next to a note head without a circle.
4. How the right hand fingers are labeled.
When playing with a pick, no right hand fingering designations are necessary. Instead, the direction of the picking motion may be listed. A square shape with one side missing indicates a downward picking direction. A pointed, karat-like symbol is used to indicate an upward picking direction.
Right hand fingerings are only referenced when playing fingerstyle guitar. Within a fingerstyle piece, the right hand fingers are either labeled one of two different ways.
A. Right Hand Fingerings in Classical Guitar
Classical guitarists use the first letter of the Spanish name for each finger. Study the fingering designations listed below.
p - pulgar (thumb)
i - indicio (index) In English, this word literally translates into "indication."
m - medio (middle)
a - anular (ring)
c - chiquito (pinky)**
**The pinky is only used when performing flamenco guitar techniques such as the "rasgueado." For an explanation of how the rasgueado technique is performed, please visit the following lessons:
Pamela Goldsmith - Classical Guitar Lesson 6
Danny Voris - Classical Guitar Lesson 6
B. Alternate Method
Many fingerstyle guitar pieces outside of the classical genre may use alternate right hand fingering designations. These fingerings are usually written above or below the staff so as not to confuse them with string numbers or left hand fingerings. The right hand fingers are often labeled as follows:
T- Thumb
1 - Index
2 - Middle
3 - Ring Finger
4 - Pinky Finger
II. Preliminary Words of Advice
1. Experiencing Pain
You will experience pain in the fingertips until you develop calluses. Calluses will begin to develop after about a weeks time if you consistently practice for at least a half hour each day. During the first few weeks, do not skip practicing just because the skin of your fingertips is sore. Instead, fight through this minor discomfort. You will develop callouses much faster if you push through the pain. Consistent daily practice is key to developing calluses and getting over the hurdle of the awkward physical aspect of playing guitar. For most beginners, a half an hour is the ideal amount of daily practice.
Additional practice time can be beneficial, but it is not absolutely essential during the early phases of your guitar training. If you practice for an hour or more each day, break up your practice time into two separate sessions. Breaking up your practice time will ensure that you are as focused as possible while you practice. In addition, the dexterity of your fingers will develop more quickly with shorter, more frequent practice sessions. Practicing in this manner will also minimize the level of soreness in the fingertips.
Other than some slight pain in the fingertips, you shouldn't feel any pain in the finger, wrist, or forearm muscles. Some fatigue will be experienced at first as your fingers become acquainted with playing guitar. However, you should not experience any excessive muscle fatigue, pain, or soreness. Playing guitar involves small muscle groups. Exercising small muscle groups is not like exercising large muscle groups. Pain does NOT equal gain. Rather, pain is a sign of injury or excessive fatigue. If you do experience pain, immediately take a break. Pain typically results from holding the guitar improperly, playing with improper technique, or simply practicing too much.
2. Frustration / Learning a New Physical Skill
-Playing the guitar feels quite awkward at first. Fretting a note properly requires your hands to perform a task that they are not used to performing at this point.
-Learning anything new on guitar such as a new chord can be very frustrating at first. Do not obsessively practice this one skill for long periods of time. This is not the most efficient use of your time. In addition, you are more likely to become frustrated and give up. Practice a new chord in small intervals of time. When you begin to feel frustrated or discouraged, move on to something else. When you feel relaxed and focused again, return to practicing the new chord.
III. Proper Playing Posture
1. Legs
The legs are the foundation of the body and proper posture. Any structure requires a solid foundation. Always follow the following guidelines regarding proper leg positioning.
-Keep the feet about shoulder width apart if not slightly wider.
-The groin area and feet should form an isosceles triangle (two equal sides). The ancient Egyptians understood that the triangle is the strongest geometric shape. Consequently, you must position the base of your body in this formation.
-Sit on the edge of a flat chair, stool, or bench. The hamstring muscles should not make contact with the surface of the chair. Most couches and beds are not ideal sitting surfaces for playing guitar. They are often too soft or too high or low from the ground.
2. The Shoulders and Back
The spine must remain straight and relaxed at all times. Stretch your spine towards the ceiling without arching your back. While doing so, do not allow your shoulders to slouch in a forward direction. The shoulders must remain relaxed and loose at all times. Do not shrug them at all. Your arms should feel like they are hanging effortlessly from your body. Do not lift your right shoulder to bring your right hand closer to the strings.
3. The Abdominal Muscles and Lower Back
The abdominal and lower back muscles support the upper structure of the body. You must find a position where the spine remains straight while utilizing the minimum amount of effort from these lower muscle groups. Using the minimum amount of effort is of paramount importance to proper guitar technique.
4. Where's Your Strap?!?!?
Unless you are playing classical guitar, you always want to wear a strap regardless of whether you are sitting or standing. Without a strap, the guitar just sits in your lap. For almost all guitarists, the guitar is way too low in this position. A properly adjusted strap ensures maximum finger reach and comfort. Make a note of how Eve and other JamPlay instructors have their straps adjusted. Always follow their example.
IV. Proper Playing Technique
1. Left Hand Guidelines
-Don't bend the strings or press them down with too much pressure. Otherwise the string will sound sharp and out of tune.
-Keep the left hand in a natural, relaxed position at all times. Do not squeeze the neck!
-Fret a note as close to the fretwire as possible. This requires the least amount of left hand energy. Also, the note sounds slightly flat if it is fretted too far away from the desired fret.
-Keep the thumb perpendicular to the neck. Do not curl the thumb or bring it up over the top of the neck. Also, Do not turn the thumb so that it runs parallel to the back of the neck. This greatly limits the range of motion of each finger. The thumb should be positioned directly behind the first and second fingers regardless of what you may be playing.
-Keep all left hand joints slightly bent. Do not flatten any of the knuckles.
-Keep the left hand fingernails as short as possible.
-Fret the strings with the very tips of the fingers. Arching the wrist outwards will help accomplish this goal. Utilizing this technique will prevent you from bumping any of the adjacent strings. Making contact with adjacent strings will prevent them from ringing clearly.
-Keep the wrist slightly bent.
-Keep the palm parallel to the bottom of the neck. Do not tilt the wrist from side to side. This will limit the range of motion for each of the fingers.
2. Right Hand Guidelines
-Keep the wrist as relaxed as possible at all times. The wrist must rotate slightly as the thumb strums through the strings. Otherwise, if the wrist is too rigid, the thumb will get hung up on one of the strings. Consequently, your tone will sound harsh and unnatural.
-Strum only the desired strings within a chord.
-Strum over the back of the soundhole or in between the humbuckers if you play an electric guitar. Blocking the soundhole with the right hand results in a quieter, weaker tone. If you have an electric guitar with three pickups, strum directly over the middle pickup. If you find that you are smacking the pickup with the fingers or the pick, strum just behind the middle pickup (towards the bridge).
Note: If you are unsure about which type of pickups your guitar has, read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickup_(music_technology)
-For now, strum chords with the fleshy pad of the thumb. This produces a softer, darker tone compared to playing with a pick. Strumming with the nail produces a brighter tone that is sort of a middle ground between strumming with the pad of the thumb and strumming with a pick. Some guitarists like to utilize both techniques in order to have a wider tonal palette to choose from. If you use the nail, make sure it is shaped properly. The quality and shape of the thumbnail greatly affects your tone. An improperly shaped thumbnail also has a tendency to get hung up on one of the strings when strumming.
Watch Scene 5 for a demonstration of how to properly strum with the thumb.
Note: Eve discusses how to play with a pick in future lessons.
V. Playing Chords
1. What Is a Chord?
A chord is defined as any three distinct pitches that are played simultaneously. Within a chord, a certain pitch may be doubled in another range. For example the A chord that is discussed in this lesson contains two A notes and 2 E notes. A note containing three and only three distinct pitches is referred to as a "triad." There are a few types of triads: major, minor, augmented, and diminished. Eve limits her discussion to major chords in the first several lessons of the series.
2. Chord Shapes
One of the advantages of the guitar is that scales and chords can be moved to new keys and different areas of the fretboard by sliding simple fretboard shapes around. For example, you will eventually learn how the shape for the A chord discussed in this lesson can be moved to different areas of the fretboard to form other major chords.
3. Chord Terminology
The words grip, voicing, or shape are commonly used terms that refer to the visual shape of the chord when it is fingered on the fretboard.
Guitarists frequently refer to basic chords as "open" chords to differentiate them from chord voicings that are played higher up on the fretboard. You may also hear them referred to as "first position" chords. This just means that the left hand frets these chords in close proximity to the first fret.
4. Chord Abbreviation Reference Guide
Am - "A minor"
A7 - "A dominant seventh"
A - "A major"
5. The "Open" A Major Chord
A major is one of the most commonly used guitar chords in all styles. Keep in mind that this is not the easiest chord to play on guitar. However, it is still relatively easy to play in the grand scheme of guitar chords. Since the A chord is relatively easy and so incredibly common, most teachers teach this chord first. Practicing this chord also addresses some fundamental guitar mechanics that must be mastered in order to play a wide variety of other chords.
A. Demonstration / Breakdown
Eve provides a demonstration of how the A chord is played at 01:58 Scene 2. Imitate Eve's left hand technique. Notice how her wrist is arched out and away from the guitar. Her nails are very short. All of the left hand fingers are bent and relaxed. She's playing on the tips of her fingers to allow the strings to ring properly. All finger joints are bent and relaxed.
B. Left Hand Fingerings
6th String - Not Strummed
5th String - Played Open
4th String - 2nd Fret, 1st Finger
3rd String - 2nd Fret 2nd Finger
2nd String - 2nd Fret, 3rd Finger
Memorize this fingering and the visual shape that the fingers form when they are placed on the fretboard in this manner.
Note: There are multiple ways to fret the A chord. These alternate fingerings and their various advantages are discussed in later lessons. For additional information on this topic, refer to lesson 11 from Jim Deeming's Phase 1 lesson series.
C. Troubleshooting / Tips
-When playing any chord, always follow the left hand guidelines listed above.
-You will not be able to fret the notes on the 3rd and 4th strings directly next to the fretwire when playing an A chord. Fret the note on the 2nd string directly behind the fretwire. Fret the notes on the 3rd and 4th strings as close to the fret as possible. This will require that you scrunch your fingers together as much as possible. Eve demonstrates what NOT to do at 04:25 in Scene 2. Notice how her fingers are slightly spread apart instead of tightly scrunched together right next to the 2nd fret. You may also need to tilt the left wrist towards the headstock in order to scrunch the first and second fingers closer to the 2nd fret. Eve demonstrates this at 05:12.
-Arch the wrist outwards away from the guitar. This will bend your fingers at a steeper angle and provides the necessary room to allow the strings to vibrate.
-Play each string individually to ensure that it is vibrating with a quality tone. If a string is muted, buzzing, or just simply doesn't sound good, monitor your technique and assess the problem. Is your fretting finger supplying enough pressure? Is it too far away from the fret? Are your fingers arched sufficiently to clear the strings? Take your hand off the guitar to let it relax. Then, adjust your technique and check each string once again.
D. Thumb Positioning
One of the most important left hand fingers is not even used to fret a note. Your ability to play chords and intermediate to advanced techniques such as string bending is largely dependent upon the left hand thumb. Many classical guitarists will argue that it is never acceptable to bring the thumb up and over the top of the neck under any circumstance. Unfortunately, most of these classical players have not spent a significant amount of time playing an electric guitar or an acoustic guitar with steel strings. It is the general consensus among electric guitar teachers and steel string acoustic players that it is appropriate to let the thumb extend slightly beyond the top of the fretboard in certain situations. The height of the thumb above the fretboard will change slightly to accommodate the fingering of certain chords. This is perfectly acceptable. However, you don't want to press the thumb against the extremely lower portion of the neck or bring it completely over the top of the fretboard. For most of the time, the pad of the thumb should press just slightly above the rounded curve of the back of the neck. Keep in mind that everyone's hands are slightly different. This will also affect the most comfortable positioning of the thumb.
Regardless of the height of the thumb, always keep the thumb straight. If you have a hitchhiker thumb, you're thumb will naturally bend backward with the contour of the neck. This is perfectly acceptable. However, you must make sure that you do not bend the tip joint excessively. Many chords require a strong amount of leverage applied by the thumb on the back of the neck. Excessive bending of the thumb limits the amount of energy applied to the back of the neck.
E. Finger Independence
For most beginners, learning how to fret a chord can be a long, tiring process. This is due simply to a lack of finger dexterity. The length required to master a chord can be shortened by practicing some basic technical exercises. These exercises will strengthen the fingers, get them better acquainted with the mechanics of fretting a note, and increase muscle memory. In turn, these skills will help you play a new, challenging chord in less time.
F. Wrist and Elbow Position
The wrist must arch outwards away from the fretboard to provide enough room for the fingers to clear the strings. However, be careful not to arch the wrist outwards too much. An excessive arch limits the amount of pressure that the left hand fingers can apply to a string. Also, arching the wrist too much can be painful and eventually lead to injury.
Do not turn the elbow outwards or inwards with the shoulder muscle. This will limit the range of movement of the fingers.
VI. Practice Time
Spend a significant time practicing the A chord until you attempt to play "Swing Low." For most of you, it will take at least days to a week or maybe even longer for you to feel comfortable with fretting the A chord and strumming it with the thumb.
Remember to take a break from the A chord if you are starting to feel frustrated. Practice something else, and return to the A chord with a fresh mental perspective.
"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot"
A very basic arrangement of this song can be played with just the A chord that you learned in this lesson. Make sure that you have perfected the guitar component of the song before you begin to sing along with it. Play along with Eve in the lesson video to make sure that your rhythm remains steady at all times. Each strum with the thumb should line up perfectly with Eve's.
Note: Standard notation and tablature to Eve's basic arrangement of the song can be found under the "Supplemental Content" tab.
Supplemental Learning Material
Basic Acoustic Guitar
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsThe acoustic guitar is one of the most beloved instruments in the world. Eve Goldberg will guide you on your guitar playing journey.
Lesson 1
Introduction to the Guitar
In this lesson, Eve Goldberg introduces the acoustic guitar. She talks about the parts of the guitar, the string names, and tuning.
Length: 27:16 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Learning the A Chord
In this lesson, Eve Goldberg introduces the first chord in this series, the A chord. She also shows how this chord can be used to play a simple song.
Length: 22:54 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
The E Chord
Eve Goldberg introduces the E chord. She explains how it is played and provides some exercises designed to improve your chord changing abilities.
Length: 21:54 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Swing Low with 2 Chords
Eve Goldberg returns to the song "Swing Low" and talks about playing it with two chords instead of one.
Length: 16:20 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 5
Boom-Chuck Strum
Eve talks about the boom-chuck strum pattern. This strum pattern will completely change the sound of your playing.
Length: 15:56 Difficulty: 1.0 FREE
Boom-Chuck and Swing Low
Eve Goldberg teaches how the boom-chuck strum can be applied to the song "Swing Low."
Length: 8:16 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
The D Chord
In this lesson, Eve introduces the D chord. You will also learn how to switch from the D chord to the A chord while applying the boom-chuck strum.
Length: 16:59 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Little Birdy
Eve teaches the song "Little Birdy," which is a great tune to practice changing from the D chord to the A chord with your boom-chuck strum.
Length: 23:54 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes
You will learn the The Carter Family song "I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes" in this lesson.
Length: 32:58 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Songs and Capos
Eve talks about 3 chord songs and demonstrates a few as an example. She also introduces the capo.
Length: 10:36 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Capo and Keys
Eve continues her discussion on capos. She explains how to find a key by using a piano keyboard drawing.
Length: 12:28 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Flatpicks
Eve introduces the flatpick. She explains the proper way to hold it and strum.
Length: 10:00 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
A to D Bass Run
Eve shows you how to to compliment your boom-chuck strum by adding an A to D bass run.
Length: 14:59 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
E to A Bass Run
In this lesson, Eve furthers your knowledge of bass runs by teaching the E to A bass run.
Length: 22:59 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Review and Practice
Eve continues her discussion of bass runs and also covers some great practicing techniques.
Length: 22:46 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
The G Chord
Eve introduces the G chord and practices changing to and from other chords you have learned. This is important for the next song you will learn.
Length: 14:06 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Gold Watch and Chain
Eve teaches the song "Gold Watch and Chain" using the G chord you learned in the last lesson.
Length: 19:02 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Boom-Chucka Strum
Eve shows you how to add a little spice to your standard boom-chuck strum in this lesson.
Length: 10:54 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Boom-a-Chucka Strum
You've learned the Boom-Chuck strum. You've learned the Boom-Chucka strum. Now you will learn the Boom-a-Chucka strum. Have fun!
Length: 13:16 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Incorporating the A to D Bass Run
Eve shows how to incorporate the A to D bass run into the song "Gold Watch and Chain."
Length: 18:10 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
D to A Bass Run
Get ready for a new run! Eve teaches the D to A bass run in this lesson.
Length: 30:35 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
D to G Bass Run
Learn how to add even more flavor to "Gold Watch and Chain" by including a bass run from D to G.
Length: 20:02 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
G to D Bass Run
Learn the G to D bass run and incorporate it into the song "Gold Watch and Chain."
Length: 29:10 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Putting It Together
Eve encourages you to take all of the tools you've learned thus far and apply them to the song "Gold Watch and Chain."
Length: 16:07 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Hobo's Lullaby
Eve introduces a new song called "Hobo's Lullaby."
Length: 15:26 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Hobo's Lullaby Fingerpicking
Eve introduces fingerpicking in this lesson by using the song "Hobo's Lullaby" as an example.
Length: 24:19 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Adding Bass Runs: D to G
Eve adds a D to G bass run into the song "Hobo's Lullaby."
Length: 19:27 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Adding Bass Runs: A to D
Eve adds the bass run from A to D into the song "Hobo's Lullaby."
Length: 16:45 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Adding Bass Runs: G to A
Eve adds the bass run from G to A into the song "Hobo's Lullaby."
Length: 19:55 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
The D Doodad
Eve Goldberg finishes up her lessons on "Hobo's Lullaby" by adding one final technique: The D Doodad.
Length: 30:49 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Careless Love Introduction
Eve Goldberg continues her beginner series with another amazing song called "Careless Love."
Length: 12:34 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Chord Structure
Eve Goldberg continues her discussion on "Careless Love" with a lesson about the pattern and chord changes of the song.
Length: 16:09 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
G Chord Fingerpicking Pattern
Eve Goldberg takes a look at the G chord fingerpicking pattern for the song "Careless Love."
Length: 14:45 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
D Chord Fingerpicking Pattern
Eve Goldberg continues "Careless Love" with a lesson about the fingerpicking pattern for the D chord.
Length: 16:48 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
C Chord Fingerpicking Pattern
Eve teaches a Travis style picking pattern for the C chord. She also explains how to make the change from the C to the G pattern.
Length: 10:02 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Careless Love Wrap-Up
Eve wraps up "Careless Love" with a lesson about putting the whole song together.
Length: 16:12 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad Introduction
Eve Goldberg introduces a new song called "Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad."
Length: 11:06 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Part 2: Chord Structure
Eve Goldberg reviews the chord structure for the song "Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad."
Length: 13:21 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Part 3: Hammer-on Introduction
Eve Goldberg returns to "Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad" with a lesson all about the hammer-on.
Length: 9:40 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Part 4: C Chord Hammer-on
Eve Goldberg continues her discussion of the hammer-on. She explains how a hammer-on can be used within a C major chord and the importance of timing.
Length: 13:18 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
Part 5: G Chord Hammer-on
Eve adds the G chord hammer-on to the song "Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad."
Length: 15:15 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Part 6: Bass Runs
Eve gives a quick review of what you have learned so far in "Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad." Then, she dives into some bass runs that can be added to the chord progression.
Length: 13:54 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
Part 7: G to C Bass Run
Eve plays the G to C run in the song "Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad." Then, she breaks it down for practice.
Length: 16:42 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
Part 8: C to G Bass Run
Eve taught the G to C bass run in the last lesson. In this lesson, she teaches you how to go from C back to G.
Length: 16:42 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
Part 9: G to Em Transition
Eve Goldberg covers a transitional chord between G and Em that functions like a bass run.
Length: 16:42 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
Part 10: All Together
Eve Goldberg wraps up "Goin' Down this Road Feelin' Bad" with a lesson that combines all the techniques you have learned in the song.
Length: 17:12 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
Stewball Introduction
Eve Goldberg introduces a new song called "Stewball" in this lesson. Get started with a little history and some basic concepts.
Length: 10:11 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
Stewball Part 2: Chord Structure
Eve Goldberg talks about the chord structure for the song "Stewball" in this lesson.
Length: 11:48 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
Stewball Part 3: Strum Variations
Eve Goldberg wraps up the song "Stewball" with some strum pattern variations.
Length: 15:08 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
About Eve Goldberg
View Full Biography
Imagine a kitchen party where Mother Maybelle Carter, Ella Fitzgerald, Mississippi John Hurt, Bessie Smith, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and Patsy Cline show up, and you begin to get a sense of what it feels like inside songwriter Eve Goldberg's head. Never one to restrict herself to one genre of music, Eve has performed her trademark mixture of folk, blues, country, bluegrass, old time, and jazz in venues ranging from small house concerts to the prestigious Kennedy Center in Washington DC since 1990.
Eve was born in the Boston area but has called Toronto, Ontario home since 1981. As a child, she was dragged to folk concerts by the likes of The Weavers, Doc Watson, Arlo Guthrie, the Watersons, and countless others. Eventually it sank in, and as a teenager she began to devour all kinds of contemporary and traditional roots music. She began performing in 1990, and hasn't looked back since. Along the way she's earned the respect of legendary musicians like Peggy Seeger, Geoff Muldaur, and Penny Lang.
Her watercolour voice and solid guitar style has become a favourite at festivals, folk clubs, and concert series across Canada and the US. With an equal passion for traditional music, and for the art of songwriting and interpretation, Eve's performances are intimate and relaxed, moving effortlessly from folk classics to original gems, all wrapped up in her clear, pure voice and dynamic guitar playing. She has released two albums to widespread acclaim -- 1998's "Ever Brightening Day" released on her own Sweet Patootie Music label, and 2003's "Crossing the Water," released by The Borealis Recording Company. Her instrumental tune "Watermelon Sorbet" was used for years as the opening theme to the popular CBC national radio show "Richardson's Roundup."
Her latest album "A Kinder Season" was released in September 2007 on Borealis Records (US Release: Jan 9, 2007). Recorded in the months after her mother's death, the album is a remarkable personal testament to the joy and hope that lurks somewhere beyond the heartache, and the sweetness that can be found even in the bitterest seasons of life. Produced by Ken Whiteley, "A Kinder Season" features twelve new originals that firmly establish Eve as a compelling and thoughtful writer whose songs draw honey from the rock of human experience. As legendary blues musician Geoff Muldaur put it, "As far as I'm concerned, Eve Goldberg is on the verge of riches. Big name folks would want to get hold of this stuff."
In January 2008, Eve released "The Streets of Burma," a song inspired by the peaceful demonstrations of monks and nuns in Burma in September 2007. Since then, Amnesty International Canada has used the song as part of its campaign to free U Gambira, one of the monks arrested following his participation in the protests. Visitors to www.amnesty.ca/streetsofburma/ can listen to a preview of the song, find out more about the situation in Burma, sign an e-postcard to help free U Gambira, and if they want, download the song in exchange for a donation to Amnesty International Canada.
"A pure and pleasing voice and a performance style that know no bounds."
- Greg Quill, Toronto Star
"...one of the most promising young singers in the Canadian folk scene"
- Alistair Brown, Greenman Review
"Wow! Ever Brightening Day is one of the best albums I've heard this year!"
- Back Porch Music Distribution
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Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.Hi Eve, love your way of teaching. You are so calm when teaching, so it makes easier to follow and understand you. Thank you for the lesson. Sad I can´t see you live. I am sleeping when you are live.
One little hint: you could mention early on that the low E string isn't played in the A chord. Good lesson all around, though!
Yay!!!! Thank you, Eve. You are a fantastic teacher. :) Yes, my fingers are sore :)
Hi Eve, I love you method of teaching! I had a question on the chord chart in the supplemental material. It shows the finger positions as 2, 1, 3 on the D,G,B strings. Do the 2,1,3 represent the actual fingers? If so wouldn't the numbering be 1,2,3 like your fingers? Thank you for your response and look forward to more lessons.
Hi. Great lesson -- so much fun and sooo great to play a song so soon! :-) It would be great if your suplemental content could include you singing the entire song, so I could practice along with you... not knowing the song/melody, it is much easier to sing with you and would give a more interesting longer practice with the chord... please?
Hi Eve - Thanks. I think this is just what I have been looking for. I have been using one of the other guitar websites and while I learned a few things there I have been stuck. When they got to cords I was completely lost. Question - I printed out the music sheet for Swing Low. It doesn't look like A cords. It looks like just individual notes. Is that right? -alan
eve whats your guitar steel or nylon what brand
You are such a natural teacher. You are so enjoyable to learn from. Thanks for making this easy.
My pleasure, glad you are enjoying the lessons.
Really liked the class. I was trying to find the lyrics. Here they are: SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT Lead: Swing low, sweet chariot Chorus: Coming for to carry me home Lead: Swing low, sweet chariot Chorus: Coming for to carry me home Lead: If you get there before I do Chorus: Coming for to carry me home Lead: Tell all my friends, I’m coming too Chorus: Coming for to carry me home My suggestion is: add the lyrics words on the video or if you think this may be distracting then provide a link to a pdf file with the lyrics to print and read while singing. Nice lesson. Thanks
Hi dd, the lyrics are in the supplemental content included with the lesson. Just click on the "supplemental content" and then click on the file called "Swing Low Lyrics." Voila!
Great lesson Eve. Sing Low is easy to play and sing to for those of us that can't walk and chew gum. I played it a few times with different strumming patterns, getting ahead of myself here but you can sing this song even when playing it fast.
great to hear that you are having fun with the song. It can absolutely be played faster, so go crazy!
This is alot better than others thanks
Why are the chord diagrams wrong in your supplemental materials? The D chord is diagrammed as an A. Later lessons also show different chord diagrams than the ones you're using in the video.
Okay, it got fixed -program glitch, I hear.
Is the G-string meant to be open/played? I can't hear it when you play it, but when I play it, it seems to stick out like a sore thumb.
nvm
My fingers seem to big to play the A cord. even when I stist a squish. Any advice?
Thats twist and squish
Hi Ben, It will definitely get easier. There are people with very large fingers who are great guitar players, so just know that it is possible. In one of the next few lessons I introduce another fingering for the A chord that might be easier for you, so you might want check that out. Make sure you are bending that last joint in your fingers, which will help your fingers come down on the neck perpendicularly, and will also put you more on the tips of your fingers, which should assist in the wiggle and squish department. Good luck, and don't give up!
oops, I should have said Benjamin...
I have the same problem. Question I have is, is it considered bad practice to use the first finger on the third string, the second finger on the fourth string, and third finger on the second string? What I'm finding with this is that it also easier to transition to open E and open D. But, I don't want develop bad habits either.
As my screen name indicates, I'm really a drummer (20+ years and still giggin like crazy!). But I couldn't stand just watching my buddies play guitar anymore and I finally broke down and bought my first accoustic. I took 8 live lessons, and in one night with Eve I feel like I have learned more than I did in two months and after spending around $160! The approach is great and I feel much more comfortable when I don't have to keep looking at the clock to get out of the way of the next student. I'll be here lots. Just wanted to say thanks to Eve and to JamPlay.
Hi Puredrum, welcome to JamPlay, and glad to hear you are enjoying the lessons.
To Eve: Love the lessons. I just finished the A chord -- not too difficult which is really nice when just getting started. Question: I THOUGHT I noticed you starting the strum for Swing Low on the E string sometimes and on the A string at other times -- my eyes aren't what they used to be so perhaps I'm mistaken. I tried alternating the strum myself between the two strings and thought it had a nice feel [sound]. Is this allowable and how do I know which string to start the strum on? Being the A chord, would it not be better to strum starting on the A string? Thanks for all of your patience and great demos! To mlapia who is turning 40: I'm 57 and just learning -- so by the time you reach my age, you'll be a ripe old pro. :-) -bill-
Hi Just Learning, I'm glad you are enjoying the lessons (and sorry for taking so long to answer your question - I've been away!). Because we are doing a very simple strum on the beat, in this case it's probably not a big deal whether you start the strum on the A string or the E string. Both notes are part of the chord, so they will both sound good. When we get into more complicated strums, which string you start with will become more important. But for now, I would say, don't worry about it!
WOW I just completed the first Chord lesson and I had alot of Fun! I don't like the song that much but it works for getting rhythm down and coordinating the hands and mouth thingy lol Needless to say I am going to be jammin this one for a few thanks for the lesson. :)
Congrats Adidaprean, I'm glad you feel like you are getting it. Keep jammin'!
This was very fun, thank you. I'm 3 weeks from my 40th birthday and I'm very exicted to have stumbled upon you.
Awesome, mlapia -- it's never too late to learn.
You have a good voice, and I have been on a lot of practice, but I learn more from you on one hour than 1 year on practice
Thanks Aagfr!
Great lesson! I haven't thought about thumb placement much. Thanks for the tip.
Thanks Mazzy! I hope it helps!
I am really a beginner. thanks, I make progress every day and enjoy learning. Your lessons are encouraging.
Glad you are making progress, boresko! Let me know if you have any questions...
Really like the whole "learn songs as you go" approach. Very helpful and a good way to build a beginner's confidence.
Thanks mlc, hope your guitar playing is going well!
can't see Scene 3.. just audio =/
Please download and Install Flash 10 here: http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/
Thanks guys! binggeli, I think you should start that band! I love it!
Great lesson! I really appreciate the focus on singing with the guitar -- not something that I've seen very much about in the other beginner lessons. More Goldberg lessons, please! (I think my first band might be called "Wiggle and Squish"...)
Thanks Eve. I'm between a beginner & intermediate level. I already know how to play an A Chord, but still found some useful little tidbits from you. Looking forward to more lessons from you. Again, thanks!